Wheel.



PATENTED NOV. 3, 1903.

1\To.743.197.A

W- B. ROBERTS y lh! 9 HLW I o l 1 I|||| IIN o um lIIl A q WHEEL UNITED STATES Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. ROBERTS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SPECIFICATIONformng part of Letters Patent N o. 743,197, dated November 3, 1903. Application filed March 4,1903. Serial No. 146,216. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have inventeda new and useful Wheel, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in Wheels.

The objectof the present invention is to improve the construction of vehicle-wheels and to enable the same to be advantageously constructed of either hickory or other hard woods.

A further object of the invention is to enable vehicle-Wheels to be advantageously constructed of lightwoods Which when unsupported and unbraced would be incapable of withstanding the strains to which a vehiclewheel is subjected. l

Another object of the invention is to obviate the necessity of tenoning or otherwise weakening a spoke and to enable the same to be effectively secured to a felly and to a hub without mortising the latter.

With these and other object-s in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appendedjt being understood that changes in the form, proportion,`and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be ,made Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any `of-the advantages of the invention. Y

In the drawings, Figure l isa sectional view of a portion of a Wheel constructed in accordance with this invention, the steel rod being arranged at the ends of the spoke. Fig. 2 is a sectional View, the steel rod being extended entirely through the spoke. Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken longitudinally of the hub, parts being constructed as shown in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a similar View, the steel rod being mounted directly upon the hub.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l designates a hub, which may be constructed of any desired material, but which is preferably constructed of Wood and provided with an axle-box of the ordinary con-v struction. The hub may be constructed When made of Wood either of hickory or any other Wood, and in order to enable various other woods than hickory to be ladvantageously employed in the construction of wheels the spokes 2 are fitted against the exterior of the hub without penetrating the same and are supported by steel rods 3, which obviate the necessity of tenoning the .inner ends of the spokes. The steel rods 3 are suitably fixed to a collar or ring 4, of suitable metal, arranged on the hub at the center thereof in a slight annular recess, so that the outer face of the collar or band 4f is flush with the adjacent portions of the hub to provide a smooth bearing-surface for the inner Aends of the spokes.

The steel rods extend into suitable perforations or bores of the inner portions of the spokes, as clearly shown in Fig. l, and they may be of any desired length and may extend entirely through the spokes, as shown at 5 in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The rods, although preferably constructed of steel, may be made of any other suitable metal or other material, andv instead of fixing the rods to a collar or ring, as shown in Fig. l of the draw ings, the Wheel-may be constructed as illustrated in Fig. 4.. In Fig. 4 the rod 6 has its inner end embedded in the hub, and it extends outward therefrom into the spoke for Supporting the same, and it may, if'desired, extend Ventirely through the spoke, as before described. When short rods are employed, as shown in Fig. l, the outer end of each spoke is supported or braced by an outer rod 7, extending through the felly 8 and into the spoke, and the outer endof the spoke may also be reinforced or braced by any suitable form of spoke-socket.

In order to further strengthen the inner end of the spoke, the latter is provided with an enlargement 9, extending laterally from each side of theA spoke and forming a wedgeshaped inner end and presenting inclined outer faces l0. The inclined outer faces are engaged by corresponding faces of fianges 1l of inner and outer metal bands 12, which embrace and reinforce the hub. The bands preferably extend beyond the ends of the hub,

IOO

as shown in Fig. 3; but they may be construct-Y ed in any desired manner, and their inner engaging portions or anges firmly clamp the inner ends of the spokes and form, with the and various other woods which could not otherwise be advantageously employed in the construction of wheels. The felly may be reinforced in any desired manner, preferably as shown in Patent No. 714,951, granted to lne December 2, 1902.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings, Where the rods are applied directly to the hub, the latter is reinforced by metal bands and the inner ends of the spokes are enlarged, as before described.

The collar or ring having the radial supporting-rods is shrunk on the Wooden hub after the latter has been subjected to the action of steam, and the said collar or ring upon cooling sinks into the Wood of the hub, so that it is unnecessary to recess the same for the reception of the collar or ring.

What I claim isl. In a wheel, the combination with a hub and Wooden spokes, of a collar surrounding the hub, and an annular series of rods eX- tending from the collar into the spokes and supporting the same, substantially as described.

2. In a Wheel, the combination of 'a hub,

Wooden spokes and a collar surrounding the hub and provided with an annular series of rigid rods fixed to the collar and extending into and supporting the spokes, substantially as described.

3. In a Wheel, the combination of a hub provided With an annular series of projecting rods, Wooden spokes receiving the rods and supported by the same, said spokes being provided at their inner ends with enlarged Wedge-shaped portions and bands fitted on the hub and provided With engaging portions or anges having inclined faces for clamping the enlarged inner ends of the spokes, substantially as described.

4. In a Wheel, the combination of a hub, a collar surrounding the hub and provided With rigid outwardly-extending supporting-rods, spokes having enlarged inner ends fitted against the hub and receiving the rods, the said inner ends of the spokes having inclined side faces, and bands arranged on the hub and provided with engaging portions or anges having inclined faces tting against those of the spokes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM B. ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, H. F. RILEY. 

